Local footballers get a sponsorship boost

Annie Timoney, Oonagh Stewart and Sara Booth with Neil Coleman (Power NI Project Coordinator) and Claire McCollum (Freelance Broadcaster) at Seaview for the announcement of the new Power NI sponsorship deal. Pic by Stephen Hamilton for photographs

Women’s Premier League champions Crusaders Strikers revealed Northern Ireland’s leading energy provider, Power NI, as their new club sponsor at their third round cup match against Newbridge Predators on Monday night.

It is the biggest sponsorship of its kind for a women’s football club in Northern Ireland and will provide its players with the opportunity to continue their successes of recent years.

Based in North Belfast the cross-community club is one of the most successful in Northern Ireland boasting numerous current and former international players at both youth and senior level. In the last ten years the club has won six league titles and are the current Concentrix Premier League Champions, representing Northern Ireland in the 2013/14 UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Club Manager Stephen Calvert remarked: “We are so excited to announce Power NI as our official club sponsor and look forward to working with them over the course of the season. Power NI has an excellent reputation of giving back to local communities and we feel very fortunate to be given the opportunity to work in partnership with them.

“It is an exciting season for us as hosts of the UEFA Women’s Champions League and it is testimony to the growth of the game within Northern Ireland that high profile sponsors such as Power NI want to invest in the women’s game.”

Neil Coleman of Power NI said: “We are delighted to be able to offer our support to Crusaders Strikers. They are an extremely talented and deserved club and we are honoured to be able to become involved in their journey over the next 12 months. We hope that our assistance will not only help them achieve their objectives but will also help drive the support and growth of women’s football in Northern Ireland in general.”

Power NI is Northern Ireland’s largest energy provider and has been supplying electricity for over 80 years. They offer a number of discounted schemes and a wide range of payment options making it easier for customers to manage their bills and pay in a way that best suits their budget.

Crusaders Strikers will host the qualifying tournament of the UEFA Women’s Champions League between 8 and 13 August 2013.